If you suspect a home may contain asbestos, who should you contact?

Contacting an inspector is the best course of action if you suspect that a home may contain asbestos. An inspector is trained to identify and assess potential hazards such as asbestos. They can conduct a thorough evaluation of the property, collect samples if necessary, and determine whether asbestos is present and in what condition. This ensures that any safety risks are properly addressed and that you receive professional guidance on remediation or further action.

The other options—broker, salesperson, and encapsulator—are not ideally equipped to perform the necessary testing and evaluation for asbestos. While a broker or salesperson might have general knowledge about real estate practices, they typically do not have the specialized training required to identify hazardous materials like asbestos. An encapsulator, on the other hand, is involved in the process of enclosing or sealing asbestos to make it safe, but they would only become involved after an inspector has confirmed its presence and assessed the situation.